Physical Wellness

3D Printed Titanium Jaw Implant Will Give You A Reason To Smile [VIDEO]

Gerard BlackMarch 31, 2017 10:00 AM EDT

A 3D printed titanium jaw implant was fitted on Susie Robinson at the Epworth Freemasons in Melbourne, Australia after the implants that held her teeth gave out after 15 years.

Robinson figured in a car accident in 1989 that broke her jaw in three areas and caused her to lose three teeth. The jaw had to be held by wires to the gums so it would not fall off.

After numerous operations, she thought she was finally set for life in 2015 when she agreed to have a dental implant operation. It required getting a bone from her hip and cultivated for six months to grow in her jaw before they will be able to attach the dental implants to the bone and a few more months before the fake teeth would be screwed in, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

She sought the help of Dr. George Dimitroulis, who advised her to undergo a new procedure he developed. The process of getting the 3D printed titanium jaw implant would only last a little over an hour and costs around $8,000. She agreed considering the trauma she suffered in her last operation and the total cost of over $80,000 to fix her jaw over the years, the ABC reported.

The 3D printed titanium jaw implant is an old idea being revived with new technology. The technology known as subperiosteal frames involves metal being used as an anchor for the false teeth and act as the missing jaw.

It fell out of use in the early 1990s when it was found that it was too difficult to custom fit the frames because 3D printing was not available then. The procedure also required several surgeries.

Dr. Dimitroulis wants to convince other practitioners at the International Conference on Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery that this technology will be a game-changer on how they will approach diseases of the gums and jaw. He also emphasizes that this technology is a safe alternative and will only cause minimal downtime to patients.

True enough, Robinson was at home five days after the surgery feeling well and able to smile confidently.